(Crossville, TN) The third annual GM Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (under 19) took place on August 6-11 at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Brook, IL.Â This is a culmination of a series of regional, state and nationwide qualifying events over the past 12 months that involved over 3,000 vying to represent their respective states.

For the second year in a row, Abby Marshall, from Virginia, won the 3rd Annual GM Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.Â After winning her first five games, she clinched her first place finish with a draw in the last round against the #1 seed Courtney Jamison, from Texas.Â This time she won the national championship representing a different state.Â The move from Ohio to Virginia didnât affect her play at all.Â Abby bested a field of 44 girls to win top honors.Â Last year, she earned a scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) for her first place victory.

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Finishing right behind Abby and tied with five points was Elina Kats, from New York and Louiza Livschitz, from Northern California. Elina got second place on tie-breaks. Following them with 4-1/2 points each were top-ranked Jamison and Ashley Carter, from Michigan.Â

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Along with winning first place in the invitational, Marshall also came in first in the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girlsâ Blitz Championship with a perfect 6-0 for the second straight year. Carter got first in the Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Championship.

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Jordana Williams from Louisiana scored 4 points to win the $500 Ursula Foster Award for the top girl 13 and under. Elizabeth Oliver of Nebraska won the Ms. Congeniality Award, an award that is voted by the players of the tournament.

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The tournament is an annual event that has the best girls from each state battle it out against each other for that illustrious UTD scholarship that the university so generously awards.Â Next yearâs event is expected to be an even bigger and better event in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.Â Here is a crucial game from the 2006 tournament winner:

For more information on UTD please contact, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2601 North Floyd Road, Richardson, TX75083-0688 or call at 972-883-2111. You can also visit them at their website at http://chessweb.utdallas.edu/chessclub.htm.

The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with over 80,000 members.